Apparatus, method and system for removing orbital debris

Abstract

Apparatus for a space platform comprises a magnetic field generator and/or an electric field generator respectively configured to generate fields for influencing the trajectory of one or more items of space debris passing within a region of the apparatus. A system comprising a plurality of such space platforms may be placed in an orbit proximal to an orbit containing space debris. An individual space platform or system thereof may be used in a method for displacing earth orbital space debris out of the orbit and either towards the Earth's atmosphere where it is likely to be destroyed by the burning on re-entry into the atmosphere, or into a safer orbit from which it may be collected or in which it may be left.

1 . An apparatus for a space platform, said apparatus comprising at least one magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field and at least one electric field generator configured to generate an electric field for influencing in space vacuum the trajectory of one or more items of space debris passing within a region of the said apparatus. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said influencing comprises deflecting said one or more items of space debris in space vacuum. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said influencing comprises attracting items of said one or more items of space debris towards said magnetic field generator, and capturing said items at said magnetic field generator. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic field generator is configured to generate said magnetic field to extend said region to beyond a space platform upon which said apparatus is supported. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic field generator comprises an electromagnet. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic field generator comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said electric field is a dipolar electric field. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said electric field is a multipolar electric field. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said influencing comprises deflecting said one or more items of space debris in space vacuum. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said electric field generator is configured to generate said electric field to extend beyond a space platform upon which said apparatus is supported. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said electric field generator comprises an arrangement including Van de Graaff generator principles. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said electric field generator comprises an arrangement including a static inverter circuit. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a Van de Graaff generator. 
     
     
         14 . A system for displacing orbital space debris, the system comprising:
 a plurality of space platforms that are positionable in an orbit that is proximal to an orbit containing space debris, each space platform being configured to:   place a magnetic field generator in an orbit proximal an orbit containing space debris;   place an electric field generator in an orbit proximal an orbit containing space debris;   generate a magnetic field sufficient to influence the trajectory of one or more items of space debris passing within a region of said magnetic field generator; and   generate an electric field sufficient to influence the trajectory of one or more items of space debris passing within a region of said electric field generator.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for a space platform, said apparatus comprising at least one electric field generator configured to generate an electric field for influencing in space vacuum the trajectory of one or more items of space debris passing within a region of the said apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for a space platform, said apparatus comprising at least one magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field for influencing in space vacuum the trajectory of one or more items of space debris passing within a region of the said apparatus.